Boaters Must Obey Rules Of The Road, Too

HOLLYWOOD -- Taking a Sunday afternoon cruise on the intracoastal waterway can be as fraught with danger as a rush-hour trip on Interstate 95.

Matt Spenadel, safety officer of the Hollywood Power Squadron, said boaters tend to drink too much, drive too fast and pay too little attention to the rules of the road.

``It`s getting to be more and more important that we get people aware of safety in the water,`` Spenadel said. ``There are more and more people out there running boats who shouldn`t be.``

Today marks the beginning of Safe Boating Week, a national event made necessary by some frightening statistics.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, more than 1,200 people die and thousands more are injured in boating accidents every year. The toll is so high that waterways are second only to highways as the scene of accidental deaths in this country.

``Education is the answer. Everybody should take a course in safe boating,`` said Gus May, past commander of the Hollywood Power Squadron. The Hollywood group is affiliated with the U.S. Power Squadrons, a private, non-profit organization of members with a common love of recreational boating.

Free courses in safe boating are offered periodically by a number of organizations, including the Power Squadrons and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. (See accompanying story for dates and times.)

To kick off Safe Boating Week, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxilliary held a fleet review of the various local enforcement boats at Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale Saturday.

At the boat launching area at John U. Lloyd Park today at 1 p.m., Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti will proclaim June 7-13 Safe Boating Week while the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla offers courtesy marine examinations.

It`s all in the name of safety. It`s also sorely needed.

May said that the U.S. Coast Guard, local police departments and marine patrols can issue tickets for violations such as driving under the influence, speeding in no-wake zones and recklessness. He also says law enforcement personnel can`t stop all violations.

``The problem is there are no restrictions when it comes to operating a boat,`` May said. ``If you`ve got a child 8 years of age and he knows how to run that boat, he can get in there and run it.``

May said boating accidents will decrease only when boaters open their eyes and ears to boating safety, which includes a course in safe boating.

``A lot of people feel that, since you don`t need a license to operate a boat, you don`t need lessons. That`s not true,`` Spenadel said. ``You find that people who have taken a safe boating course realize they have to slow down and be courteous of other boaters.``

Because many power boats are capable of exceeding speeds of 60 mph, Spenadel said speed contributes to accidents.

``There`s a tremendous urge when you`re in a boat and you don`t have a speed zone to see how fast it will go. Power becomes a big thing to people who don`t have power in life. Speed is very dangerous unless you know how to control the boat,`` Spenadel said.

``Boating appears easy until something happens,`` May added. ``When you`re educated, if an emergency arises, you`re that much ahead of the game.``

Here are safety tips from the Hollywood Power Squadron.

-- All passengers should wear a personal flotation device.

-- Don`t overload the boat. There should be a plaque on the boat specifying the maximum number of people it can safely hold.

-- Don`t drink while operating a boat. According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, alcohol is a contributing factor in more than half of boating fatalities.

-- Travel at a sensible speed, taking weather and water conditions into consideration.

-- Stay clear of large vessels, and keep a watch out for other boats at all times.